George Bernard Shaw might as well have written, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food”, for the Kapoors.
Lunches and dinners at the famous clan are a part of Bollywood legend. From the days of Prithviraj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor to the current generation of Ranbir, Riddhima, Kareena and more, food has remained at the heart of their family traditions.
Industry insiders have often spoken of the evenings spent at the Kapoors’ dinner table. And now, we finally get to have a seat at it with Netflix’s Dining With The Kapoors.
The show promises to offer viewers an exclusive invitation to join the iconic family for a meal. It will be a treat to hear them talk candidly about their love for food, peppered with stories and personal anecdotes. It looks like plenty is set to spill. And, even if others play prim and proper, Kareena Kapoor Khan, staying true to her unapologetic style, is sure to serve up the most delicious dose of entertainment.
Created by Armaan Jain, directed by Smriti Mundhra, of The Romantics fame, and produced by Aavashyak Media, Dining With The Kapoors is shot in a fly-on-the-wall documentary style.
Honouring 100 years of Raj Kapoor, the special brings together Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Rima Jain, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, and more.
The show is set to premiere on 21 November.
Also read: Why Hyderabad restaurants don’t make it to the top. Obsessed with comfort food, no PR
Phulkas to souffles
The Kapoor clan’s love for food has been well-documented through their interviews and social media posts.
And, this love isn’t just for Michelin-star restaurants. Something as simple as a ‘phulka’ impressed Rishi Kapoor when he went for lunch at Anupam Kher’s apartment. So much so that the actor posted about it on X.
“At Anupam Kher’s apartment for lunch. Had the correct “aate(flour) ka phulka(Indian bread) after a while. Great food made by his man Friday Daddu,” Rishi Kapoor tweeted on X.
In an interview, Hemant Oberoi, Chef at Taj Luxury Hotels, said that Rishi Kapoor was particularly fond of meats, fish, and souffles.
He also loved traditional home-cooked dishes such as Parsi-style akuri eggs and Yakhni pulao as well. Among his other favorites were classics like fish fry, yellow dal, dal tadka, and palak paneer. Such interviews don’t reach a large pool of audiences. It’s why people think celebrities have fancy meals only. Dining with the Kapoors might also tell the world that no matter how big the mansion or the bank account is, everyone in the end wants food that comforts the soul.
Chinese cuisine, however, holds a special place for the Kapoor clan. Food critic Kunal Vijayakar once shared that when he interviewed Rishi’s uncle, Shammi Kapoor, the veteran actor insisted their meal came from the family’s beloved restaurant, China Garden.
Vijayakar recounted another anecdote. During a stormy night in Bandra, which flooded the streets, Rishi Kapoor showed up drenched at his cousin’s restaurant, Mr. Chow, just to satisfy a craving for wontons. Now, this is some commitment. Don’t call yourself a foodie if you cannot pull off a stunt like this.
The love for food runs deep in the Kapoor genes. Rishi’s daughter, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, once said that “dieting and Kapoors don’t go together.” Kareena Kapoor Khan has also echoed the same statement.
Riddhima has always been an advocate of yoga, hence there was a perception that she must on all sorts of diets.
Riddhima had explained, “I try to eat healthy, but I have a binge day every week. I don’t deprive myself. If I want something sweet, I’ll have a piece of chocolate.”
Her ultimate comfort food, she added, is simple home-cooked food, particularly curd rice, achaar, and papad.
Kareena’s love for food
For my generation, if there is one celebrity who has made talking about food both relatable and entertaining, it is Kareena.
For years, actors have spoken about their strict diet regimes, keto, intermittent fasting, and everything in between, creating the impression that their ‘perfect’ looks came from relentless restraint.
But Kareena has always stood apart, for admitting out loud that she is a full-time foodie.
I remember an interview where she confessed that she would rather spend extra time at the gym than give up her parathas with butter. Kareena’s refreshing honesty about her relationship with food has made her stand out.
The legendary Kapoor dinner parties often seen on the Instagram stories of Kareena, Karisma, and their close friends Malaika and Amrita Arora, have given us glimpses of the lavish spreads.
And one dish remains a forever favorite in the family, biryani.
In one of her Instagram posts, Karisma wrote, “I don’t do boyfriends, I do biryani.”
While listing down her favourite eats in Delhi, Kareena said, “Biryani of course, I am a Kapoor.”
Hopefully, Dining With The Kapoors will go beyond simply stating the family’s favorite dishes—uncovering personal stories, traditions, and memories attached to those meals.
After all, every household has recipes passed down through generations, and with a family as iconic as the Kapoors, each dish is likely to carry a legacy of its own.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)